Vikings to play 2 cold seasons in outdoor stadium

Steve Maki, facilities director for the Metropolitan Sports Commission, speaks as Mortenson VP John Wood, left, and Ravi Norman, Thor construction CEO listen Friday Feb. 15, 2013 in Minneapolis, before the announcement on what company would get the contract to build the Minnesota Viking stadium. Mortenson Construction, the Golden Valley-based company that built new venues for the Twins, Wild, Timberwolves and University of Minnesota football team was chosen Friday to build the new home for the Minnesota Vikings. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune,Glenn Stubbe ) MANDATORY CREDIT; ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT; MAGS OUT; TWIN CITIES TV OUT
— AP

Steve Maki, facilities director for the Metropolitan Sports Commission, speaks as Mortenson VP John Wood, left, and Ravi Norman, Thor construction CEO listen Friday Feb. 15, 2013 in Minneapolis, before the announcement on what company would get the contract to build the Minnesota Viking stadium. Mortenson Construction, the Golden Valley-based company that built new venues for the Twins, Wild, Timberwolves and University of Minnesota football team was chosen Friday to build the new home for the Minnesota Vikings. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune,Glenn Stubbe ) MANDATORY CREDIT; ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT; MAGS OUT; TWIN CITIES TV OUT
/ AP

In addition to the annual payment from the team to the school, the two would split money that comes in from concessions, sponsorship and advertising - likely about $50,000 a game.

The plan is for the new $975 million stadium to be enclosed. But Bagley said that Mortenson would help the Vikings obtain cost estimates for potentially including a retractable roof, wall or window, or a combination of those.

"The Vikings are very interested in a retractable feature," Bagley said. He said a decision on that is likely within 90 days.

Mortenson's fee amounts to 1.7 percent of total construction costs. Senior Vice President John Wood said the company's initial bid to the authority was 1.95 percent.

Kelm-Helgen and Bagley said they were glad to be able to hire a Minnesota firm, but that Mortenson was competitive with firms from other states that bid. Mortenson said the project would generate 7,500 jobs for Minnesota construction workers; Kelm-Helgen said it would be "the largest construction project the state has ever seen."

Dallas-based HKS Architects is designing the stadum. Kelm-Helgen said an initial design would likely be released in March.